Maoists killed 62 civilians, 11 cops in November: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI - The Maoists killed 62 civilians and 11 security personnel in several states in November, union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Tuesday.

There were 135 incidents of Maoist violence in the month, Chidambaram said in his ministry’s report for November released at a press conference here.

“The Left-wing extremists (Maoists) continue to wage a war against the state. It has not come down,” he said.

The Maoists have adopted a new pattern of targeting police, the minister said.

He said seven members of policemen’s families were killed in Chattisgarh. There also have been incidents of abduction of relatives of policemen to put pressure on them to resign.

Thirty-three public properties, including panchayat offices and schools, were damaged by the Maoists in the month, he said in the report.

Chidambaram said the government was pursuing its “two-pronged strategy” of arresting Maoists and ensuring developmental projects in the Maoist-hit areas.

He said the Rs.3,300 crore recently earmarked for development in Maoist-affected districts would be allocated in a phased manner in the next 16 months.